The Day Of The Lord Will Come Without Warning

A few years ago, a massive apartment fire broke out in our community. Those living there lost everything. For them, it came as unexpectedly as the day of the Lord will come.

But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment. 2 Peter 3:10

The blaze that completely gutted the apartment house started in the middle of the building. The flames torched the entire interior until it reached both ends, making the structure uninhabitable.

Peter explained to us what will happen when the day of the Lord comes. Just like the consuming apartment fire came unexpectedly, the day of the Lord will catch the world by surprise.

The vast heavens will disappear in fire along with all of the elements. The day of the Lord will end the era of time and usher everything into eternity.

The Bible tells us that God’s creation will undergo two massive fires in the end times. We already talked about the first one. The second one consists of an eternal unquenchable fire.

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Consuming and Non-Consuming Fire

Let’s look at two types of fires referenced in the pages of the Bible. Both types burned, but with different results. Moses noticed a bush burning in the wilderness, but the fire didn’t consume it.

The angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush. Moses stared in amazement. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn’t burn up. “This is amazing,” Moses said to himself. “Why isn’t that bush burning up? I must go see it.” Exodus 3:2-3

As Moses approached it, God spoke to him from the middle of the bush. The Lord warned Moses not to get any closer. God used an unconsumed fiery bush to get Moses’ attention.

I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” When Moses heard this, he covered his face because he was afraid to look at God. Exodus 3:6

One of Elijah’s Experiences with Fire

The prophet Elijah had a different experience. Unlike Moses’ encounter with the Lord, God didn’t appear in the fire. Elijah put his trust and faith in God and asked Him to send the fire.

O Lord, answer me! Answer me so these people will know that you, O Lord, are God and that you have brought them back to yourself.” Immediately the fire of the Lord flashed down from heaven and burned up the young bull, the wood, the stones, and the dust. It even licked up all the water in the trench! 1 Kings 18:37-38

God didn’t need Elijah’s attention like He did Moses’. Elijah, though, wanted God to get the attention of the Israelites. He did, and the fire consumed everything, including the stones.

And when all the people saw it, they fell face down on the ground and cried out, “The Lord—he is God! Yes, the Lord is God!” 1 Kings 18:39

In Acts chapter 2, during Pentecost, a non-consuming fire appeared. It settled on each of the 120 people seeking Him in the upper room. It happened at the initial baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Both types of fire, consuming and non-consuming, will play a part after the day of the Lord. This time, the consuming fire will work for God’s good, but the non-consuming fire won’t be so good.

We read in 2^nd Peter that the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth and the works therein shall be burned up. (KJV)

The Lord will send fire to consume the former heavens and earth. The heat of the fire will totally disintegrate them to where they disappear. He will replace them with a new heaven and earth.

The Day of the Lord Will Reveal the Unquenchable Fire

Some people don’t want to entertain the notion that an unquenchable eternal fire even exists. Three families burned out of the apartment house, who attended our church, stood in unbelief.

I went to the scene to console those families while it was burning. The fire looked like it would burn forever. Even the firefighters couldn’t stop it until it consumed everything in its path.

John wrote about the non-consuming fire in the book of Revelation. Nothing will quench it or slow it down. God created this lake of fire for Satan and the angels that fell with him.

Then the devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur, joining the beast and the false prophet. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Revelation 20:10

Jesus referred to the unquenchable eternal fire of torment. When talking to His followers, He warned them to do whatever it takes to keep from sinning. He used some very strong language.

And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out. It’s better to enter the Kingdom of God with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, ‘where the maggots never die and the fire never goes out.’ Mark 9:47-48

You can Look Forward to the Day of the Lord

He wants us to stay away from sinning willfully. We must accept Him and live in obedience to His word. Make sure he writes your name in the Lamb’s book of life. Don’t be sorry for eternity.

The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds. Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death. And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:13-15

Fire can have good qualities and those not so good. We can cook on it, use it to stay warm, and gather around it while enjoying fellowship. But destruction happens when it gets out of control.

Fortunately, no one died in the apartment fire our community experienced. Unfortunately, no one will die in the unquenchable fire burning for eternity. It will, however, cause everlasting torment.

Every person can avoid that eternal torment by simply turning their life to Jesus. After a person breathes their last breath and enters eternity, they will live with the decision they made, forever.

Accept Jesus today as your Savior. If you have questions or want more information, contact me at robin@c3pottstown.com

Lord, I pray for every person who reads this post to choose Jesus before the day of the Lord comes. And anoint each Christian with your unquenchable fire of the Holy Spirit.